A Verstappen of few words at the FIA presser: 'Doesn't get you anywhere'
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Max Verstappen is not a fan of the numerous media commitments that come with his role as Formula 1 driver for Red Bull Racing. He also spoke a lot less during the official FIA drivers' press conference. The Dutchman has a clear reason for this, however, as he revealed to select media, including GPblog, at the Albert Park circuit.
Arriving at the Red Bull hospitality in Melbourne, Verstappen is still busy entertaining VIPs. There are also some photos to be taken, like one of all the drivers at the start of the season. It is well known that these are not exactly the Dutchman's favourite activities, but as he then states once he sits down at the table: it's all part of the job.
Since being given community service for using a curse word during the Singapore 2024 Grand Prix weekend, Verstappen has become a lot less talkative during official press conferences. He admits he has started to watch his words more, but at the same time says he is fine with keeping his answers a bit shorter and more concise.
Verstappen: 'Going against everything doesn't get anywhere either'
"Of course you have to be a bit more careful with everything. But on the other hand, I don't have that much to say and I don't want to spend that much time on it anyway. Just relax. Then you'll see for yourself," said a visibly relaxed Verstappen. So, elaborated responses during press conferences is therefore out of the question at the moment.
"Of course, you can always argue against something, but that doesn't always help either. I don't feel like that so much. I just do my things over the weekend and then I go home. Then I'm busy with other things. It's busy enough this season, even off the track," he continued.
A lot of hilarious videos have appeared on social media of Verstappen over the years, especially during the time he had Daniel Ricciardo as a teammate. For him, those are things he can do without: "What I always like are serious, productive things. Not those nonsensical things. If it's just constructive things that maybe you can learn something from or to bring something out, I like that. I like to do that then. But the TikToks and stuff, yeah I don't see have that much [enjoyment] with that."
Verstappen clear: 'I don't feel much like that anymore'
He did have fun with Ricciardo at the time, but Verstappen does have a clear comment on that: "Social media was different then too, in 2016 or 2017. The world was slightly different then than now. Now it's still possible, of course, but I don't really feel like it that much anymore."
Asked if he does enjoy press moments like this, the four-time world champion replies with a sarcastic laugh: "Yes!" On a more serious note, he added: "It's just part of it too, isn't it?"
This article was written in collaboration with Norberto Mujica.
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